Test 3 (Variant b)

1. Read the text:

THE LAWMAKING PROCESS

Committees play a dominant role in congressional proceedings. At present the Senate has 16 standing (or permanent) committees; the House of Representatives has 22. Each specialises in specific areas of legislation: foreign affairs, defence, banking, agriculture, commerce, appropriations and other fields. Every bill introduced in either house is referred to a committee for study and recommendation. The majority party in each house controls the committee process. Committee chairmen are selected by a caucus of party members. Minority parties are proportionally represented on the committees according to their strength in each house.

Bills are introduced by a variety of methods. Some are drawn up by standing committees; some by special committees created to deal with specific legislative issues: and some may be suggested by the president or other executive officers. Citizens and organisations outside Congress may suggest legislation to its members, and individual members themselves may initiate bills. After introduction, bills are sent to designated committees which schedule a series of debates. The hearing process, which can last several weeks or months, opens the legislative process to public participation.

* When a committee has acted favourably on a bill, the proposed legislation is then sent to the floor for open debate. In the Senate, the rules permit virtually unlimited debate. In the House, because of the large number of members, the Rules Committee usually sets limits. When debate is ended, members vote either to approve the bill, defeat it, table it - which means setting it aside and is tantamount to defeat - or return it to committee. A bill passed by one house is sent to the other for action. If the bill is amended by the second house, a conference committee composed of members of both houses attempts to reconcile the differences.

* Once passed by both houses, the bill is sent to the president. The president has the option of signing the bill - by which it becomes law - or vetoing it. A bill vetoed by the president must be reapproved by a two-thirds vote of both houses to become law. The president may again either refuse to sign the bill or veto it. In that case, the bill becomes law without his signature 10 days after it reaches him.

2. Translate the marked (*) paragraphs into Russian.

3. Answer the questions using the text:

1. What is the role of committees in the lawmaking process? 2. Can a citizen of the USA suggest a legislation? 3. Why are the debates in the House of Representatives limited? 4. What is the right to veto a bill?

4. Use the Perfect tenses of the verbs in brackets:

1. You may use my car, I (to repair) it. 2. I didn’t go to the cinema with you because I (to see) that film twice. 3. When I phoned Ann, she just (to get) home. 4. I (not to hear) from him for ages. 5. This is the best film I ever (to see). 6. Ann (to write) letters all day. She already (to write) ten letters. 7. I can’t get in, somebody (to lock) the door. 8. He showed bad results at the exam because he (not to study) anything for exams. 9. I couldn’t take Mike’s car because he (to sell) it. 10. They (to pass) their graduation exams by this time next year. 11. They (to come) to a compromise by the time the hearings in the Parliament begin. 12. How long she (to work) for Marks and Spencer?

5. Put questions using the words in brackets:

1. Mr Malcolm has been waiting for you for two hours. (Who ... for? How long?)

2. The auditors will have completed their work by the end of the day. (Will? Disjunctive).

3. He had withdrawn the money from his account before the bank closed. (Who? What?)

6. Use may or might:

1. You ... have informed about the meeting of the shareholders. 2. ... I help you? 2. You are looking for John, aren’t you? He ... be in the pub though I’m not sure. 3. It’s 10 but they aren’t here. The train ... has been late or they ... have forgotten your address. 4. You ... not treat me like your slave. 5. I sent them my proposals two weeks ago so that they ... think them over.

7. Use little, a little, few, a few:

1. It won’t take much time, just ... minutes. 2. Mr Clover has very ... time for personal affairs. 3. He feels rather lonely here: he is a newcomer and has ... friends. 4. If you want to earn ... dollars you may take a part-time work. 5. If you need money I can lend you ... . 6. We have ... coffee left so I am going out to buy some. 7. There won’t be a lot of people: just ... good friends of mine. 8. Sorry, sir, we have ... books on the topic and we do not borrow them, so you will have to work in our reading hall.

8. Use articles where necessary:

1. ... United States is a federation of fifty states. They are situated in ... North America 2. They are spending their honeymoon somewhere in ... Alps. 3. The bank has numerous offices in ... Western Europe. 4. Mr Yeltsin decided to shoot at ... White House one day. 5. They booked a table at ... Yellow Submarine restaurant. 6. The head office of the company moved to ... Cherry Lane last year. 7. The developers bought a large area along ... Missouri River. 8. The firm invested a large sum in redevelopment of the recreation area near ... Lake Superior. 9. What do you think about visiting ... Easter Island?

9. Choose the correct prepositions:

1. They are in the habit of giving presents ... Christmas. (during, at, for). 2. I’ll probably see you ... next week. (on, at, -) 3. He fell asleep ... we were listening ... that lecture. (for, to, during, while) 4. She will have to work ... 9 p. m. today. (until, for, by) 5. I will definitely have finished my work ... 5 p. m. (by, on, at) 6. Sorry, I was not aware ... that fact. (about, on, of) 7. He is leaving ... Belarus ... Argentina. (to, in, for) 8. Our firm is interested ... making this contract with a few amendments. (of, about, in) 9. I’m not responsible ... the attendance of the employees. (about, for, at)